Festivals Books

This is a great little book. I am starting new Christmas traditions since my family has all gone separate ways, and I have my own home and husband and child now, and everything just has changed so much from my holidays as a child. And I am finding the Victorian traditions to be so much fun and to feel so cozy and warm and fulfilling.

This book is easy to read even for your children (well, I'd say from about 4th grade or so and up). And it has some nice color illustrations in it. Great for wanting to get some nice Christmas ideas, or if you have kids studying or doing a paper on the Victorian era or the history of Christmas. Or if you yourself would just like to learn a little more about it, or have something sweet and cozy to read come November or December.

Victorian Christmas by Kalman and Bedell is a small volume in pages(32) but packed full of information with beautiful illustrations. It could be read by a teen or adult or even an older elementary student. We used the information to make our Dickens Christmas Party more in keeping with the period.

Being heavily into Victorian I buy as many items as I can that relate to the subject. And being even more into Christmas (I do a Victorian Christmas, putting up 14 trees and all of the attendant decorations)I do collect items on Victorian Christmas. This book was a very nice addition to my library.

This may be for children but it is a great source on how the Victorians spent Christmas. Lots of information and charming illustrations. With the help of this book, I will be able to create a credible Victorian Christmas at home.

If you're traveling to Europe looking to party, party, party go to the Pink Palace which is like a summer camp in the Greek Isles, When you've had enough to drink to get your courage up, Run With The Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. These things and more I have done and reading about them in Stavrou's travel guide to partying around the globe made me laugh. I love this book. Gave me more information on where to go to drink and party for next year's trip.!!Great Read.

I found this book at http://www.clark.net/pub/partyguide and ordered direct from publisher. It is filled with really good travel tips, bargain flight info and accommodation stuff. It is so funny. I read about the author's running with the bulls in Pamplona, Munich Octoberfest, his partying around the globe, Mykonos, Athens, other Greek Isle party spots, living in Prague, trips to Ireland, France, Caribbean, New Orleans. Just filled with great place and advice on when to party and best watering holes. Seems to be aimed to college age and Generations X'ers looking for action

I found Stavrou's travel guide to be full of Information on partying in Europe and very funny

I was looking for a budget guide to Europe and this was it.so funny. Everywhere to go to drink and party, especially drink.I reccomend this book if you are looking for action in your travel. Inside information on Europe. I am going to the Greek Isles and want to go to the places that this guy had so much fun at. So Myknosos will be my first stop, after than the Pink Palace Hotel. That is, if i survive Myknosos

Great way to teach use of context clues in the classroom as well as illustrations supporting words/details. Woodson captures the themes of family and tradition.

Regular midsummer family reunions disguised as a picnic are always events filled with history. There are the relatives whose creations are to die for and then there are those you fear will make you die. This delightful tale for children is about one such gathering. Everyone fears Martha's apple pie, which is dry and difficult to eat. However, everyone is polite and all eat every crumb and proclaim its' goodness.
Some people arrive bearing great quantities of food and others come with nothing but a smile and what charm they have. No one openly objects of course, as the object of the gathering is to renew and strengthen family ties. Despite the presence of a few slackers, everyone manages to have plenty to eat and has a good time.
The text of this book is at the right level for the young child and the illustrations are very colorful and will catch and keep their attention. Since all of the characters are black, this book can also be used in diversity programs.

We have 2 small children & this book is one of their favorites!! The pictures are bright & very eye catching & the story itself keeps you waiting for who will walk up next. My daughters 3rd grade class enjoyed all the characters. It reminds me of my family all the good food & times that we all share when we are together.

This book was just a joy to read to my two young children. The illustrations are so lively and colorful. The characters remind me of my own family. Everyone should read it!

ISBN 0140323244 - Herbie Jones is such an average kid that Herbie books are just a little BETTER than average. Most kids can relate to him and his friends as they go through really normal, really common, almost boring things in a most un-boring way.

Herbie's got a girlfriend. Her most attractive feature is that she likes Herbie's poetry. Herbie's best friend Raymond isn't thrilled with this G Disease (Girl Disease) that his friend has caught and keeps a jealous eye on the situation. Annabelle's fondness for Herbie's poetic wit isn't enough to build a lasting relationship on, and when she starts to really act like a girlfriend, Herbie can't ditch her fast enough. He liked her for slightly less than two days and now he longs for the good old days, when Annabelle wasn't even speaking to him.

Herbie's just a hilarious, normal boy, whose romantic thoughts are along the lines of "...still thinking about Annabelle's eyes. He decided they reminded him of chocolate malt balls." As a lifelong Luke Spencer fan, I found it funny that Herbie's sister, Olivia, was watching General Infirmary. On the "lessons" side, it was nice that, although the boys attempted to cheat for the spelling bee, they confessed before it started.

I really like this book and think most kids, particularly boys, will enjoy it. However. There's always those parents whose concerns are different. If you are among the parents who might be bothered by the fact that Ray thinks he would get spanked if his mom found out that he cheated, skip this book. If several innocent butt-jokes, while looking up "haunches" in the dictionary, might bother you, skip this book. If you might get freaked out by the (intentional) mis-spelling of words in Herbie's handwritten poetry (spigetti, reseaver, etc), skip this book. If you're slightly less uptight and freaked out and just want your child to know the joys of reading, pick up a copy - and read it while your kid's sleeping!

This story takes place during the school year is one boy and his friend and he play with him but the boy as a teacher his name is Ms. Pinkham the part the am like is when the teacher due the spelling bee.

This is mostly about a 8 years old boy win the spelling bee and he tell to is friend if she wanted to go out with him and she told him yes.

In my opinion, this book is entertaining and funny and awesome. I liked and am laughed to much.

I would it is entertaining and funny.

This story takes place during the school year is one boy and his friend and he play with him but the boy as a teacher his name is Ms. Pinkham the part the am like is when the teacher due the spelling bee.

This is mostly about a 8 years old boy win the spelling bee and he tell to is friend if she wanted to go out with him and she told him yes.

In my opinion, this book is entertaining and funny and awesome. I liked and am laughed to much.

I would it is entertaining and funny.

Kids who have some difficulty reading are not usually motivated to pick up a chapter book. This one, however, grabs their attention right away. The antics of Herbie and his friends (especially his trouble getting rid of a girlfriend) capture the reader's interest and maintain it throughout. A great read for those 4th and 5th grade kids who may struggle with reading!

This is a nice story book about a Jewish boy in Eastern Europe trying to behave in synagogue and gets kicked out by his father. He needs to perform his kapores with his village using chickens. The chickens object to the treatment and ask for the tradition to be changed. What to do? How will kapores be performed?

although i haven't rad this book, yet it seems like one which you can have fun with because of it's characters yt you can get the moral of the story as well. you can also see a different perspective of how people think. i have heard many good things about this book and anyone who has time for a "fun/learned" read, shouls give this a try

I loved this book. Not only did I learn a rather obscure & bizarre jewish tradition, I fell in love with the wonderful illustrations!
Though I am a christian, I will enjoy sharing this book of jewish life and practice with my grandkids. A wonderful & culturally rich tale with delightfully engaging illustrations!

Being a new grandfather, I am getting back into books for children. The story is important, of course, and this is a cute story about a fascinating and rather esoteric bit of Jewish tradition...good as well as instructive for the children. But what makes this book are the illustrations! They grab you in the bookstore and make you want to buy the book. They wonderfully illustrate the simple little story, giving it depth and character that will fascinate the children long after the words are finished. Trueman's wonderful colors and technique give the characters life, despite a certain stylistic stiltedness that he obviously chose to accomplish his purposes with the book. Buy the book for the story, yes. But certainly buy it for the pictures!! Your kids or grandkids will have a ball...and so will you!

This book captures you quickly and holds you the length of the story. I found the story enlightening as it explained one of the Jewish holidays with reverence and warmth. A wonderful book for younger children of any religion!

It's a wonderful book, heartfelt and fascinating. The illustrations, too, are delightful. Highly recommended!

This is a delicious Simchat Torah story based on the tension between a bright little girl and her fearsomely stern grandfather. Stylized illustrations capture New York's Lower East Side in the 1930's as a curious heroine provokes a joyous outcome. For younger children.

Elsa Okon Rael is making a true place for herself in young children's literature. Both this book and her earlier Zeesie story evoke a time in immigrant history, but more, bring to life a very real little girl amid her loving family. There is no better gift for a grandmother to give her grandchild or one that will be reread so often.

I bought this book to read to my grandchildren, ages 2-4. The drawings are fun to see and the words are equally fun to read. My grandchildren thoroughly enjoy this book.

This book caught my eye at first because of its different, "snowflake" shape...the illustrations are extremely charming, warm and "un-slick"-unlike so many that have that computer-graphic-generated style. Also-we don't get snow here at all, and so this is a lovely, evocative subject for California city dwelling kids. My little niece loves it. Definitely a worthy addition to your children's bookshelf.

This book features perhaps the cutest little kitten ever spending a snowy winter's day walking among the icicles and snowflakes. Kelly Asbury's pictures are fresh and funny, while Ann Burg's text is engaging and easy to read. This is a must for any kid's library and a great teaching tool for helping kids learn about the seasons. A+!

The book is a about a kitten who is taking a walk in the outdoors during winter. We see him get on all his warm clothes and off he goes. He does lots of fun winter things. He makes snow angels, snowmen, goes sledding and looks for tracks in the snow. When he has had enough fun for the day he goes back inside by the fire for a cup of hot chocolate!

The board book has a very unique shape. It's in the shape ofa snowflake. The pages are made of stiff board like paper making it easy for little hands to turn.

or why not?I would recommed this book to parents and caregivers of kids ages birth to 3. This is a great way to introduce them to winter and all the things that come with it.

This book is a beautifully illustrated treat for children 4 and up, with a Halloween theme. It uses a repetitive word pattern so children can participate in the reading. The illustrations are a little scary for very sensitive children or those under 4. It was a big hit in our kindergarten last year!

I have the Spanish version of this book. I bought it before my child was born since i loved the pictures. Thought if I ever have a child this would be a really wild book to share. I just loved the illustrations. The pictures are scarry, but beautifully drawn. Now my child is 4, I showed it to him & he was fascinated...can't wait till my other friends kids are old enough to send a copy. If your child likes scary things, or if you are looking for a book to read on Halloween, this book is excellent. Hand drawn color illustrations, with a repetitive rhyme...

Don't be scared off by the "Horn" review. This is a great Halloween book for children 4+ unless they are extremely sensitive. Most kids I know are fascinated by monsters and creepy things, and the illustrations in this book, while scary, are rich and beautiful. Any kid who can handle Roald Dahl will like this book.

My daughter 4-year old with English as second language, firstly being attracted by the mysterious but beautiful illustration of this book.Once we started the reading we found the story very attractive and non-stopable(fortunately only 30+ pages).After read together with her for triple, she is able to read aloud by herself. She enjoyed this book very much and likes to share with her friends to scare them.

My daughter in college is studying anthropology. I gave this to her as a Christmas gift-she loves it. It contains good decriptions of festivals
around the world, time, place, etc. Excellent photos. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves travel and festivals.

This bookis awesome. It turns out the week were going on vacation is the same week as this awesome festival and I probably would have never known until too late without this book. Right now the book is circulating between my party friends and hopefully we will all make bigs plans to party down crucial style!

If travel and partying is of interest, you can't go wrong with WORLD PARTY: THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE WORLD'S BEST FESTIVALS. It covers some of the key party places in the world, from Barbados to New Orleans and Africa, packing in color photos on every page with discussions of festival purpose, atmosphere, amenities, pros and cons. If you want to hone in on some of the best for advance planning, WORLD PARTY is for you - and if you're a public library with a contemporary travel section for lenders, it's a 'must' acquisition.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

If you are like me, and born to travel as much of the world before you die; then this travel book/guide should be number 1 on your list. Page after page in this book is an excuse for you to not just travel, but immerse yourself into the myriad of different cultures throughout the world. From religious ceremonies to balls out parties, each new chapter will delight and fulfill anyone's needs for travel and fun.

Seriously now - what else do you need? Buy this book and book your travel agent. Your new life starts today!

Just when you think the book has ended, and ended wonderfully, it has one more page to warm your heart even more. Lisa has a great feel for story-telling. This book is great, for kids and adults alike. It's a must for the collection.

This is one of my favorite counting books. It has a lot of humor and the art is great.

This is one of Jahn-Clough's best books yet (she also created ABC, YUMMY, MY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOOK! and the wonderful ALICIA HAS A BAD DAY). 123, YIPPIE follows one little house that is all alone as two little children enter bringing tea, then three little dogs bark at the door, and so on until ten little monsters bring the dessert and all creatures are displayed in a truly gorgeous double spread and then count back down again to one little house. On the very last page two little children come back again and make the house their home. Once again, Ms. Jahn-Clough creates a splendid array of bursting delight in this ideal counting book.